Time Slows @ Laverick’s Bay

The time came to go home.  We are all grateful and happy to be home. We had one last stop at Laverick’s Bay before the 16.5 hour flight home.

I’ve come to realize that the greatest gift we can give ourselves and others is time. Our trip to NZ was a gift of time, nature’s beauty and adventure!  I remember an excellent history professor from high school, Doc Smith, who said the greatest commodity of the future will be time. At the time I knew his words were significant but I didn’t fully understand. Now I understand the gift and elusiveness of time.

At Laverick’s Bay we were off the grid. Going off the grid slows time in such a significant way. When we don’t have our phones or anywhere to go time slows down. The kids played an endless game of Monopoly and lots of card games. Birdie was so happy. She doesn't often have this kind of attention from all her older siblings. Time slowed and they just played together. Jason and I read books and relaxed in the wood burning hot tub. Even the hot tub was a lesson in time, requiring patience for it to warm up.  

There was a beach down the valley that was secluded except for a bunch of sea lions who were very friendly and entertaining. Lots of smiles from these two on the beach on one of their last days knowing they were returning to winter very soon! 

We stayed in a couple tents and there was a kitchen tent too. It was actually fun doing dishes when the kitchen is outside. And the bathroom with plumbing and a hot shower makes sleeping in a tent down right awesome! 

The bedroom tents were super comfortable and charming. It was chilly one night and it was really fun warming up the tent with the fireplace. 

Friday morning time stood still when we woke up to sounds from Birdie like she was going to be sick but she wasn’t sick and she didn’t respond as she should. Her mouth contorted and she wasn’t able to talk. We realized she was having seizure symptoms. In just a few minutes her brain failed her and then just like that the seizure was over. Fear makes time stand too. It is amazing how those few minutes more than anything made me ready to come home.

I have been waiting on publishing this final blog post from our trip because I didn’t know if I wanted to share this detail.  I let time do it’s magic and then I had clarity that this is the whole reason I write - to authentically share, to share with honesty, not rose colored glasses. Yes this trip was an amazing opportunity and we are full of gratitude but this morning was awful. We all felt the life altering fear of what if Birdie wasn’t ok in those few moments and then once she was ok what if it happens again. We all have our fears, our burdens, our challenges, my hope in writing is creating opportunities where we can relate, we can empathize, we can connect.

The gift from New Zealand that I took home with me is a commitment to connect with my family, friends and nature every day. Whether it is a quick walk with our dogs or a a long walk at Lapham Peak. There is beautiful nature and people that surround us. I am looking forward to connecting with them and noticing nature’s beauty daily. I am also looking forward to finding a night or weekend here or there where we as a family go off the grid - we put our phones away and BE together.

Cheers New Zealand to nature and living off the grid. We will be back and are so grateful! ❤️